CANCER campaigners in Merthyr Tydfil will be lending their support to a peaceful rally at Cardiff Bay’s Senedd building next month.

Former breast cancer patient Jayne Sullivan is to launch a campaign aimed at making politicians and the public more aware of the importance of early and effective screening.

Ms Sullivan, 50, a mother of two, of Lakeside Gardens, Merthyr Tydfil, said: “Having been diagnosed with an aggressive form of breast cancer in May 2005, I care passionately about the need for early and effective screening.

“I want the National Assembly to have a root-and-branch review of screening processes and to thoroughly examine associated issues such as ease of access to screening facilities by members of the public.”

Women in Wales aged 50-74 are currently screened for breast cancer every three years, while women aged 20-64 are invited to have a smear test every three years.

Men and women aged 60-69 are currently eligible for bowel cancer screening, although this will eventually be extended to everyone aged 50-74.

Ms Sullivan plans to hold a peaceful rally outside the Senedd in Cardiff Bay on February 1 at 12.30pm.

That will be five years to the day since she occupied the neighbouring Assembly building Ty Hywel in her successful campaign to make the breast cancer drug Herceptin available across Wales on the NHS.

Bowel cancer fundraiser Maria Price, 49, from Queen’s Road, is supporting the campaign and encouraging people affected by cancer to help out.

At the end of the rally, Ms Sullivan will hand a letter to Helen Mary Jones, Plaid Cymru’s health spokeswoman, asking the AM to raise in the Assembly the possibility of creating an all-party cancer screening review group as soon as possible.

“Screening can be a life-saving service and contributes significantly to early diagnosis and treatment,” she said.

“Despite the difficult economic times in which we live, this is one service which must continue to be funded.”